05/01/19 - The Lock at Wolverley and Kingsford Country Park

Distance - 5.5 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration - AA 1001 Family Walks, Walk 453


Conclusive proof that there is no need to travel all day to find a good walk.   This is just perfect and only 15 minutes from home.

We start at the Lock in Wolverley, a Pub that gets things just right.   We'll come back to that.

Early walking is easy, along the Staffordshire/Worcestershire canal as it follows the course of the River Stour, often through dramatic sandstone cut-throughs.

Mrs M, Child #2 and Joy the Guide Dog in Training

The only downside of walking so close to home is that I have nearly found all the caches.  There is just one unfound for my first smiley of 2019.   And if you are only going to find one geocache, then it ought to be a classic ammo can.

1 Down, 999 to get in 2019

The canal is left behind at Cookley's steel works, where we join the North Worcestershire Path into the National Trust's Kingsford Country Park.  Sandy paths through the trees.

Kingsford Country Park

We emerge out the woods at Blakeshall, a collection of two farms and nothing else.  Farmland takes us to Debdale farm - one of those farms where all they seem to do is burn rubbish and leave scattered farm machinery lying around.

Looking away from Debdale farm

Soon back into Wolverley - a place rich in architectural interest and recorded in the Domesday book.

I could have brought you photos of the former law courts, the church on the hill or even the hollowed out animal pound, carved into the sandstone to store lost animals.   Instead, I'll bring the one of the two more fascinating buildings.   The Queens had a poorer review on Tripadvisor for their chips.

The Lock

This former cottage became a pub purely as a result of the canals - with a former owner selling liquid refreshment to the passing bargers.

Fortunately, its all tiled floors - so three sets of slight muddy boots and one quite dirty dog can come in and not make a permanent mess.  We enter into the bar area, the second customers of the day.  The first sat as far from the log burning fire as possible but kept it well fed for us, with frequent top ups.

Perfection - Log Burner, Pint

This is a Marstons pub and has not bothered the Good Beer Guide.  However, it is a Cask Marque accredited pub.   Memorable, as I have earnt my 250th Scan, using the app to scan in the barcode on the certificate just above the bar.   Mrs M is delighted I have another branded pint glass winging its way to me from CM HQ.

The Ringwood Forty Niner was as good as its ever been but the highlight was the food.   How can you make a steak baguette even better?  By being offered either mushrooms or onions.   How can you make a steak and onion baguette even better?   By being offered a choice of three different cheeses.

And TripAdvisor was bang on about the chips.

Guide Dog Joy Enjoyed it too.